Teaching Ideas
Below we have listed some teaching strategies and activities that can be used in conjunction with reading this novel.
Venn Diagram
While reading the novel, have students take note of similarities between their lives and Parvana's life. You could allow students to choose any similarities and differences or provide them with a theme such as school, home life, or chores.
This activity would address the following outcomes in the Alberta Grade 5 program of studies:
This activity would address the following outcomes in the Alberta Grade 5 program of studies:
- SLO 2.2 compare characters and situations portrayed in oral, print and other media texts to those encountered in the classroom and community
- SLO 5.1 discuss personal understanding of the lives of people or characters in various communities, cultural traditions, places and times portrayed in oral, print and other media texts
Character Tree
Either along the way, or as a culminating activity, have students create a character tree of one character in the book. On each branch, include a character trait and on each leaf, include an example of the character trait from the book. Below is an example of the beginning of a character tree based on Parvana.
Study GuideThe author of I am Parvana, Deborah Ellis, offers a great study guide to compliment a book study.
Photo Essay - Hell of a Nation: A Ravaged Country
Photo Essay - The Women of Afghanistan War
Photo Stories Gathered on Life in Afghanistan |
A collaborative project by national and international photojournalists to capture the uniqueness and diversity in Afghanistan.
Razistan's ("Land of Secrets") Mission:
"Last year, the war in Afghanistan accounted for roughly two percent of the news content published in the United States. The Western media’s interest in Afghanistan will almost certainly continue to diminish along with the Western troops. Razistan aims to help give the war the attention it deserves. Our core project is a website of unique photo essays that bring into vivid relief not only the conflict and its participants but also the country and its people."
Razistan's ("Land of Secrets") Mission:
"Last year, the war in Afghanistan accounted for roughly two percent of the news content published in the United States. The Western media’s interest in Afghanistan will almost certainly continue to diminish along with the Western troops. Razistan aims to help give the war the attention it deserves. Our core project is a website of unique photo essays that bring into vivid relief not only the conflict and its participants but also the country and its people."